Drivers License Reinstatement Attorneys in Addison, IL

At this very moment, there are a significant number of drivers in Illinois who are operating vehicles with suspended drivers licenses; many of them know about the suspension and choose to ignore it. This approach is always a mistake because most drivers cannot go more than eight or ten blocks without violating at least one traffic law, and the penalties for driving with a suspended license are quite stiff.

The meticulous attorneys at Stringini & Garvey, P.C. work hard to either limit the adverse effects of a drivers license suspension or eliminate them altogether. We understand that driving is not a privilege but a necessity for most area families. So, we carefully examine all the facts and prepare for every hearing as if our own drivers licenses were at stake.

Reasons for License Suspension

The Secretary of State may suspend a drivers license for a multitude of reasons, some of which have little or nothing to do with roadway safety. Some of the more common areas include:

DUI: Either a conviction or an arrest, if it is accompanied by a test refusal or failure, might trigger drivers license suspension.

Failure to Appear: A missed court appearance or deadline, regardless of the excuse, often causes automatic suspension.

Ticket Suspension: This occurs when a driver accrues 10 or more parking tickets, five or more unpaid automatic traffic violations, at least five tollway violations or too many moving violations.

If the suspension was for a definite period, such as a DUI refusal, reinstatement is not automatic: the drivers license is suspended until a reinstatement fee is paid. Additionally, the Secretary of State usually blocks vehicle registration renewal for these drivers.

Driving with a suspended or revoked license is a Class A misdemeanor (maximum one year in jail and $2,500 fine) that can be upgraded to a Class 4 felony (maximum one to three years in prison and $25,000 fine) in many circumstances.

DUI Suspension

If a driver is arrested and a chemical test shows a BAC of .08, or the driver refuses to proceed with the test, a suspension may begin 46 days after he or she receives notice. We are very successful in avoiding those suspensions.

For conviction suspensions or revocations, drivers are classified according to risk level. There are different criteria for license suspension and reinstatement on each level; the categorization is generally tied to the number of offenses. Effective in January 2016, all DUI offenders are potentially eligible for a restricted driving permit, regardless of the number of prior offenses.